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Today

Today has been one of those days.Not a horrible day.I’ve certainly had worse in my life, but it was a trying day
nonetheless.And when you have
trying day after trying day, you just start to feel beat down. But it seems not
many people talk about those days.A friend of mine did tonight, and it was like a breath of fresh
air.So as I was lying in bed
feeling her pain and remembering my own, I decided to write.For anyone else that can relate.For anyone else that might read this
and think “Yes!I’m there too.”

Before I say anything else, let me say that I know how
blessed I am.I know that on the
outside, my life could look amazing.I have a great husband who works so hard to provide for his family, a
beautiful home to bring us shelter, two healthy daughters...And you’re right.It is great.And I’m sure on the outside everything looks wonderful. But sometimes,
on the inside, on days like today, it’s also very lonely and very defeating.

Today my husband woke up, albeit before the rest of us, and
got to go to work, with real adults, eat something more than a sandwich for
lunch, fly over the beautiful beaches, have some moments of thought all to
himself...

I woke up almost with the sun thanks to my toddler that
seems to recently find it fun to rise earlier and earlier every morning.I made meals, I cleaned up messes, I
did laundry, I taught manners, I even attempted to take a work call.

But the little one started fussing and the older one kept
walking into the office to “play” with things that weren’t toys, disobeying my
pleas and returning with a bath cup full of water, that I’m still not sure was
from the faucet or the toilet.Then
it’s on to trying to get the infant to open her mouth for her new solid foods
and listening to the toddler cry because her snack cup wasn’t filled all the
way to the top.And heaven forbid
we brush her teeth before nap (like we do. EVERY. DAY).I could go on, but I’ll spare you.

“Is this really my life?“ I think to myself, and probably
out loud sometimes. I was the top of my class in high school and college.I had lofty dreams.And here I am pursuing my passions in
fleeting moments of naptimes and bedtimes and preschool hours (assuming the
little one naps).And I just want
to be good.To do it well.All of it.Being a wife.Being a mom.Being a
business woman.Being a sane
adult.

And then Jon gets home from work and the perfectionist side
of me wonders if I’ve failed.If
he thinks I haven’t accomplished anything all day.If he thinks I’m being a good enough wife, a good enough mom.Am I being what I need for
everyone?

The answer is “no” (not because he told me, but because I’m
no fool).I never will be what I
need to be for everyone, all the time.And I have to try to let that go.The biggest battle is truly with myself. The irrational goals I set for myself will never be
attained.And that’s okay. That’s
okay.

And you know what?Tomorrow is new and so too are His mercies…in spite of my failures.

“The days are long but the years are short” they say.And they’re right. Tonight, as I was
cleaning out some pictures from my phone, I came across some old ones of both
of my girls as babies and my heart nearly burst. Oh how the time has disappeared
in the blink of an eye. I try to
constantly tell myself to take it all in.To enjoy each moment (minus the tantrums).To breathe.Because they will only be older tomorrow.

Being a mom is hard.Because being a stay-at-home mom is hard.And in my opinion, being a stay-at-home working mom is even
harder because you feel like you’re never fully succeeding at one title or the
other.

This is my life right now, but I know this won’t be my life
forever.

And tomorrow I will try again. I will try again to love my
babies well, to make my husband feel appreciated, to finally finish that item
on the to do list, to make time for myself.

So here’s to that.To finding the joy.To
powering through.To not letting
go of those dreams…for them but also for you.

Our efforts aren’t lost momma’s.We aren’t alone.Tomorrow is a new day.

Gunner's daddy's "going home" outfit greeted guests at the sign in table, along with a framed "Southern gentleman in the making" print.

A variety of centerpieces graced the tables with groupings of baby mementos, flowers and photos.

An antique baby basket helped house the gifts.
The drink menu consisted of milk, apple juice (one of Lauren's cravings), fruit-infused water and coffee.
The menu was made of a variety of brunch goodies including fruit, doughnuts, muffins, shrimp and grits, breakfast casserole and a waffle bar.
And of course no shower is complete without a little something sweet. These b…

Over two months later, I'm finally getting around to posting on my nephew Cohen's first birthday! Because he was born just six days before Christmas, it was important to my sister, Meredith, to have a party to make him feel special, separate of the normal seasonal celebrations. And I'm always up for a planning a good party!

Since Cohen was little baby, he has loved giraffes. First introduced with the paper mache bust hanging over the changing pad in his nursery(here), my sister says he's been a fan ever since. Using that as the inspiration, the party planning began. Meredith found an invitation she liked at Tiny Prints and thus the color palette of green, yellow and brown was established.

Cohen wore a monogrammed yellow chevron coverall on the big day, and the cheerful pattern was also used throughout the party. To create a prominent backdrop on the fireplace mantel, we covered a remant piece of beadboard with chevron fabric. It made a big statement with little…

Auden turned one on November 11th and we celebrated at our home with close family and friends. The theme of the party was pumpkins and pearls. Pun'kin is one of the nicknames I called her when she was little and pearls bring a girly flair and tied into our reveal party when we found out we were having a girl so it seemed perfect.

I had so much fun creating her invitation and all of the party printables. And for a little extra adornment, the invites were tied with jute twine and placed in scalloped envelope. Invites available for purchase here.

Here's the sweet birthday girl in her homemade hat. I love how the bow on top turned out :) Her birthday stats poster is now available here.

The smash cake table with our go-to milk jars (Starbuck frappuccino glasses) with paper straws. The tree slab plate they are sitting on was also used at our wedding. The smash cake was a $10 cake from Public and Auden LOVED …